Schlumbergera plant named ‘Thorsophia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Schlumbergera  plant named ‘Thorsophia’, characterized by its upright to broadly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; and yellow-colored flower buds and flowers.

Botanical designation: Schlumbergera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘THORSOPHIA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSchlumbergera plant, botanically known as Schlumbergera hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Thorsophia’.

The new Schlumbergera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new strong and freely branchingSchlumbergera plants with attractive flower color.

The new Schlumbergera plant originated from a cross-pollinationconducted by the Inventor in Odense, Denmark in November, 2010 of aproprietary selection of Schlumbergera hybrida identified as code number2010-7, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with a proprietaryselection of Schlumbergera hybrida identified as code number 2010-3, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Schlumbergera plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark in November, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Schlumbergera plant by cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Odense, Denmark, since December,2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Schlumbergera plantare stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Schlumbergera have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Thorsophia’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Thorsophia’ as a new and distinct Schlumbergeraplant:

-   -   1. Upright to broadly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Yellow-colored flower buds and flowers.

Plants of the new Schlumbergera can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Schlumbergera differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more freely branching        than plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have darker green- colored        leaves than plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Schlumbergera and the female parent        selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Schlumbergera can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Schlumbergera differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more freely branching        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have orange-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Schlumbergera can be compared to plants ofSchlumbergera ‘Outono Brazil’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Schlumbergera differ primarily fromplants of ‘Outono Brazil’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more compact than and not        as vigorous as plants of ‘Outono Brazil’.    -   2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more freely branching        than plants of ‘Outono Brazil’.    -   3. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have more rounded leaves than        plants of ‘Outono Brazil’.    -   4. Plants of the new Schlumbergera and ‘Outono Brazil’ differ in        flower color as plants of ‘Outono Brazil’ have pale        yellow-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Schlumbergera plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Schlumbergera plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Thorsophia’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet are close-up views of a typicalflower bud and a typical flower of ‘Thorsophia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the early autumn in 9-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Odense, Denmark and undercultural practices typical of Schlumbergera commercial production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 20° C. and lightlevels averaged 30 klux. Plants were pinched one time and were tenmonths old when the photographs and description were taken. In thefollowing description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Schlumbergera hybrida ‘Thorsophia’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Schlumbergera hybrida identified as code number 2010-7.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Schlumbergera hybrida identified as code number 2010-3.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at            temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 140 days            at temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 140 days            at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to broadly spreading plant            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 12.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 17.3            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 18.9 cm.        -   Lateral stem description.—Stems are flattened phylloclades            with thin joints. Branching habit: Freely branching habit            with about nine lateral branches developing per plant;            pinching enhances lateral branch development. Phylloclade            length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 cm; at the joint,            about 5 mm. Shape: Broadly oblong. Margins: Sharply            two-dentate; at the joints, marginal areolas with short            bristles, about 1 mm to 3 mm in length and close to 162C to            162D in color. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Upright            to perpendicular. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately glossy. Color, developing: Slightly darker than            between 143A and 146A. Color, developed: Close to 147A; main            vein, close to 143B to 143C, at segment joints, main vein is            slightly darker than 143A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single zygomorphic flowers            with numerous perianth segments; flowers face upright to            slightly drooping; freely flowering habit with about seven            flowers per plant at one time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring into the autumn in Denmark.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three weeks;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.            Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 165B to 165D;            towards the apex, tinged with close to 65B to 65C.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Perianth segments fused towards the            base giving an elongated tubular appearance to the flowers;            flowers sessile. Diameter: About 5 cm by 5.7 cm. Depth            (length): About 6.8 cm. Throat diameter: About 7 mm. Tube            length: About 3.2 cm. Tube diameter: About 7 mm.        -   Perianth segments.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20            perianth segments arranged in about five whorls; lower 55%            portion of the perianth segments are fused. Perianth segment            length: About 3.2 cm; varying between 0.3 cm and 6 cm            depending on position. Perianth segment width: About 8 mm;            varying between 0.3 cm and 1.3 cm depending on position.            Perianth segment shape: Oblanceolate. Perianth segment apex:            Acute. Perianth segment margin: Entire. Perianth segment            texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy. Perianth segment color:            When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 16A to 16B;            towards the base, fading to closer to NN155D. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 16A to 16B (closest to 16B); towards            the base, fading to closer to NN155D; venation, similar to            lamina colors; yellow color becoming closer to 163D with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 14A to            14C; towards the base, fading to closer to NN155D; venation,            similar to lamina colors; yellow color becoming closer to            163D with development.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 75.            Filament length: About 3.5 cm to 4.8 cm. Filament color:            Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 8C. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8D. Pistils:            Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 5.9 cm. Style            length: About 5.5 cm. Style color: Close to N57A. Stigma            diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma            color: Close to between N66A and 67A. Ovary color: Close to            152D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Schlumbergera.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Schlumbergera have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Schlumbergera plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Schlumbergera have been    observed to tolerate high temperatures of about 40° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 13.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Schlumbergera plant named‘Thorsophia’ as illustrated and described.